ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Music ‘Celebrated & appreciated’ Saweetie grateful to be just ‘nominated’ LOS ANGELES, May 24, (AP): Platinum-selling rap- per Saweetie has incorporated choreography in her live performances, but ask her about working with controversial music producer Dr. Luke and she dances around the question like a principal ballerina. Dr. Luke, who has been embattled in a lawsuit with artist Kesha since 2014, has produced Saweetie’s lat- est hits — the bops “Tap In” and “Best Friend.” The songs have reached the Top 10 and Top 20 on rap and pop charts, respectively, and the success helped Saweetie score a top female rap artist nomination at the Billboard Music Awards, pitting her against Grammy-winners Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. Dr. Luke marked a major comeback last year, scoring his fi rst No. 1 hit since 2014 with “Say So” by Doja Cat, who is signed to his label and is featured on Saweetie’s “Best Friend.” Once ousted from the industry, Dr. Luke has resurged on the charts in a big way, also producing and writing for acts In this video image provided by NBC, BTS performs during the Billboard Music Awards on May 23. (AP) like Juice WRLD, DaBaby, Lil Wayne, Kygo, The Kid Laroi Saweetie and Tay Money. This year he even earned his fi rst Grammy nomination in seven years and he’s up for producer of the year at next week’s iHeartRadio Music Awards. In an interview with The Associated Press on last Thursday, Saweetie talks about her success, her debut album and, reluctantly, Dr. Luke. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Congratulations on your Billboard nomination. How does it feel? Saweetie: It feels great. But when it’s you, you don’t feel or you don’t see the impact that you’re cre- ating. So sometimes I see stuff and I’m like, “Wow, that’s what I’m doing right now.” But it feels amazing. AP: Are you nervous about the awards show? Saweetie: Honestly, I’m not nervous. I’m just grate- ful. I mean, the fact that I’m nominated with no album out, I think that speaks volumes. And it just makes me super-excited for my album release because, it’s like, I have a lot more where that came from. AP: “Tap In” and “Best Friend” have been huge hits for you, and both were produced by Dr. Luke. What was it like working with him? Saweetie: It was good. I did a boot camp and Drake carries his son Adonis Graham as he accepts the artist of the decade The Weeknd accepts the top artist award during the Billboard Music Awards. knocked out several songs. award. (AP) (AP) AP: What was it like working with Dr. Luke? Saweetie: Well, when I work with any producer, I’m always, like, asking (questions). I’m a college girl, so I always have in my mind if I need to ask as much questions as possible. I love suggestions, opinions, be- cause there’s just so much room for improvement and growth. So I love collaborating with other creatives because it keeps my mind fl owing. AP: Since Dr. Luke produced your two biggest re- cords, did you feel like you learned anything from him? Saweetie: It was a while ago, so I’d have to think for a while and don’t want to take up too much of your time. AP: Were you hesitant at all about working with him because of the controversy surrounding him? Saweetie: That’s a really good question, but I feel like this is turning into an interview that is taking the focus and the light off of such an amazing night. So if we can, I’d like to focus on that. AP: When do you plan on releasing your debut al- bum? Saweetie: My fi rst album will be out this summer. AP: Has your success sunk in at all? Saweetie: I think when I’m placed in rooms like this where I’m celebrated, appreciated and I’m outside Pink, (left), accepts the Icon award from presenter Jon Bon Jovi. (AP) Nick Jonas, (from left), Kevin Jonas and Joe Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers, per- of my house, and I come from underneath my rock form. (AP) because I feel like I work so much that I tend to not re- ally know what’s going on as far as my progression to the outside world, I feel like in moments like this, I do feel like it’s sinking in. So I’m just really grateful to be here because me and my team have worked so hard List of Billboard Awards winners and I feel like my goals are slowly being checked off. Also: NEW YORK, May 24, AP): A list of winners in the top catego- NEW YORK: For more than a year now, the state of ries at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, held Sunday at the America’s live music industry has been a grim one. Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The COVID-19 pandemic threw hundreds of thou- ■ Top artist: The Weeknd sands of musicians, roadies and other touring industry ■ professionals out of work, according to the Country Top Hot 100 song: The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” Music Association. In Tennessee alone, the industry’s ■ Top Billboard 200 album: Pop Smoke, “Shoot for the unemployed number around 50,000. Stars, Aim for the Moon.” Compounding the problem, the jobs in restau- ■ Top female artist: Taylor Swift rants and other hospitality businesses that have long ■ sustained out-of-work entertainers were drastically Top male artist: The Weeknd slashed, too. ■ Top new artist: Pop Smoke Now, in response to the crisis, the music association ■ Top collaboration: Gabby Barrett featuring Charlie is expanding its efforts to help the industry’s needy. It Puth, “I Hope” has announced recently that it will provide 4 million Alicia Keys performs at the Billboard ■ DaBaby accepts the top rap song meals in cities with large populations of musicians and Music Awards. (AP) Top duo/group: BTS award for ‘ROCKSTAR.’ (AP) music industry professionals in a new partnership with ■ Top R&B artist: The Weeknd Feeding America. ■ Top rap artist: Pop Smoke The trade organization’s foundation will also ■ launch a donation challenge to fund an additional 1 Top country artist: Morgan Wallen million meals throughout all of Feeding America’s ■ Top rock artist: Machine Gun Kelly food banks. And its Music Industry COVID Support ■ Top Latin artist: Bad Bunny (MICS) Initiative will help those in Atlanta, Austin, ■ Top dance/electronic artist: Lady Gaga Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, ■ Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Or- Top Christian artist: Elevation Worship lando, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington and Port- ■ Top gospel artist: Kanye West land, Oregon. ■ Top social artist: BTS All of that will come on top of $3 million that the ■ Top streaming songs artist: Drake CMA has invested in numerous nonprofi ts that serve music professionals. ■ Top song sales artist: BTS “Nobody wants to think about their friends or col- ■ Top radio songs artist: The Weeknd leagues going without food,” said Sarah Trahern, the ■ Top Billboard 200 artist: Taylor Swift association’s CEO. “But I’ve been out at a couple of ■ the food banks that we’ve done work with over the last Top Hot 100 artist: The Weeknd year, and it’s us. As people, you think, ‘There but for ■ Artist of the Decade Award: Drake the grace of God go I.’” ■ Icon Award: Pink “I feel like by next year we’re going to be in good ■ Change Maker Award: Trae Tha Truth stead,” she said. “But a lot of those people will have gone Tyler Joseph, of Twenty One Pilots, Machine Gun Kelly accepts the top 18 months to 24 months without salaries in their chosen performs. (AP) rock artist award. (AP) fi elds. And then you can’t put a roof over your head or put braces on your kids or put food on the table.” The need to help those musicians and music indus- try professionals make it through the next few months is why the CMA opted to expand its MICS initiative. Variety And it’s why country superstar Blake Shelton said he seven alleged victims. tion before he rules on the motion, which is proud to have been part of the initiative in helping ”We have no reason to believe that any could happen next month. drum up fi nancial support for the food banks. SANTA ANA, Calif: State prosecutors of these victims are being untruthful,” Dr Grant Robicheaux, a surgeon “There are a lot of people struggling in our country, asked a judge to dismiss most sex crime but a review found that some allegations who previously appeared on a Bravo TV and COVID has only made that worse,” Shelton said charges fi led against a reality TV doctor couldn’t be proved beyond a reasonable show called “Online Dating Rituals of the and his girlfriend, who are accused of in an interview with The Associated Press. doubt, the prosecutor said. American Male,” was charged in 2018 drugging and raping several women at The motion said a review found that with in connection with seven victims, and “People are going to bed hungry at night now more their Southern California home. than ever, and I just can’t live with that. I’ve been pas- some allegations couldn’t be proved Cerissa Riley was charged in connection The attorney general’s offi ce, which took beyond a reasonable doubt.